Josh Felber is the CEO/CMO of 10x Training Systems LLC, uncovering the mindset and success strategies of the top 1%.
What is “hyperfocus,” and why is there so much hype around it? Unless you make a constant effort to resist, I think it’s safe to say that every one of us is prone to distractions. We get through our workday trying to focus on many tasks. Competing with our attention are phone calls, meetings, colleagues, emails and our devices. These distractions can lead to inefficiencies and mistakes on the job.
The word “hyperfocus,” which is well described in Chris Bailey’s book Hyperfocus, is about maximizing your productivity by focusing on one task at a time. (Disclosure: Chris Bailey has been a guest on my podcast.) It is an intense experience of concentrated focus with no reaction to external distractions.
As an entrepreneur, you probably have very little time and free “attentional space” on your hands. If your focus spreads across various areas in a day, you will be less likely to perform to your full potential. Here’s how you can hyperfocus in your day.
1. Mark the time on your calendar.
Observe your calendar, and block time out to hyperfocus. You can use 1–3 hours at a time, or more, depending on what it is you want to achieve. This not only serves as a to-do list but also makes a specific time for it. This way, you are mentally prepared to put in your energy to complete the task.
Decide the timing of both your work and your break. Breaks are important if you want to hyperfocus for longer amounts of time in a day. It gives your brain that downtime to refresh and come back feeling recharged.
2. Decrease your screen time.
We often reach for our phones, even when they do not beep or ring. It is almost like we have this constant need to catch up on what we are missing out on. We scroll mindlessly and end up spending hours on social media and other apps. We move from our laptops to our phones, our televisions to our tablets.
The brain has limited space, and by exposing it to new information all the time, we may be overloading it. When you want to hyperfocus, keep your devices away from you. You can store them in the next room for some time. Switch off notifications from apps that you don’t need to know about. Give yourself enough time to wind down before bed without any screens.
3. Understand your task.
Some tasks are mundane. These are often the ones we procrastinate about the most. When working on such a task, you may be more likely to give in to distractions. Your mind may look for other things to do—things that feel easier and more enjoyable.
When you find yourself experiencing this, make a concentrated effort to get through the task. You could make it your first priority for the day and finish it before any other tasks. You can tell yourself to complete it without getting distracted so that you can enjoy all your distractions later.
4. Write down everything.
As you’re working on a task, your mind wanders to something you have to do later in the day. Write it down. You remember another job that needs your attention. Write it down.
By allowing your brain to “dump” thoughts on paper, you are allowing yourself to focus better on what is happening at the moment. No matter how much you try to focus, your mind will wander. That is totally acceptable. Try to recognize when this happens and bring your attention back.
And at the start of each day, set three intentions. Write down the top three tasks you need to accomplish for the day and work toward achieving them.
I’ve found it is easy to stay focused and productive once you make an effort to do so. Try out these steps, and you can achieve your goals faster. After some weeks, you may find that you have more time on your hands.
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